Author(s) will ensure they have submitted entirely original works, and that the work and/or words of others have been appropriately cited or acknowledged. Authors will commit to observing the following scholarly principles.

Reporting Standards

Author(s) will present an accurate account of the work performed as well as an objective discussion of its significance. The data should be represented accurately. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute scholarly misconduct.

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in the published work, it is the author’s obligation to promptly notify the Editor-in-Chief and cooperate with the Editor-in-Chief to either retract the paper or to publish an appropriate erratum.

Authorship

Authorship must be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. The corresponding author should ensure that: a) all those who have made significant contributions are listed as co-authors; b) no inappropriate co-authors are included on the paper; c) all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the paper and have agreed to its submission for publication.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

An author will not publish papers describing essentially the same research in more than one journal. Submitting the same paper to more than one journal, or publishing one paper presenting essentially the same research in more than one journal, or primary publication, constitutes unethical scholarly misconduct.

In cases of alleged or proven misconduct, fraudulent publication or plagiarism, the Editor-in-Chief will take the appropriate measures to clarify the situation and to amend the paper in question. This includes the publication of an erratum or the complete retraction of the affected work.

Acknowledgement of Sources

Proper acknowledgment of the work of others must always be given. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the reported work. Where there are others who have participated in certain substantive aspects of the research project, they should be named in an Acknowledgement section.

Conflicts of Interest

All author(s) should disclose in the paper any financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or interpretation of their study. All sources of financial support for the project must be disclosed.